Pony.ai initiates Robotaxi service test from Beijing Daxing International Airport

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On September 21, Chinese autonomous driving solution developer Pony.ai announced the launch of autonomous shuttle service testing between Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. 

Photo credit: Pony.ai

Pony.ai is among the first companies to receive authorization for testing on this route. This achievement follows Pony.ai's pioneering public highway testing of autonomous trucks on the Beijing-Taipei Expressway in December 2021, further advancing the deployment of autonomous driving technology in high-speed road scenarios within China.

Pony.ai has meticulously devised an operational plan for its "Daxing Airport to Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area" autonomous driving transportation service, backed by ample technical expertise. With the support of Beijing's authorities, Pony.ai conducted trial runs in August for autonomous vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers at Daxing Airport terminals and navigate public areas. Subsequently, the company plans to progressively expand its autonomous driving transportation service (Robotaxi) between the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and Daxing Airport, transitioning from road testing and passenger demonstration applications to commercial pilot programs.

In the current phase, Pony.ai primarily conducts road testing between over 600 locations within the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and Daxing Airport terminals. Safety operators are on board the Robotaxi during this phase. 

This testing route covers a significant amount of highway scenarios, including segments of the Beijing-Taipei Expressway, Daxing Airport Northbound Highway, and Daxing Airport Highway, totaling approximately 40 kilometers.